Sound box for phonographs



L W. HONKA.

SOUND BO X FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-21.1921.

1,404,769. Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

6 L M v 0%4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. HONKA, OF NEGAUNEE, MICHIGAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

Application filed January 21, 1921.- Serial No. 439,009.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. HONKA, a

'citizen of the United States, residing at Negaunee, in the county of Marquette and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound Boxes for Phonographs, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to sound boxes for phonographs and the like and has for its primary object to provide a simple and inexpensive construction which will produce a more natural and perfect tone in the sound reproduction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sound box construction in which the vibrations of the stylus are communicated to the edge of the vibratory disk or diaphragm rather than to the center as has been customary heretofore.

Further objects of the invention "are to provide a vibratory disk of varying thickness, to eliminate metallic sounds, to permit the mounting of the stylus directly upon the vibratory disk, to permit adjustment of the strength of the tone produced by the sound box, to procure greater flexibility and freedom of vibration in the vibrato disk,

and to provide an improved connection bep of my invention will be better understood by reference to thefollowing specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating certain selected embodiments'thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of my invention complete;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the sound box in the proper-position for lateral groove records;

Fi 3 is a central vertical section of the sound box in the position of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the sound box in the position for hill and dale records Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are modified forms of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, my invention, is shown to comprise a sound box 10 provided with a vibratory disk or diaphragm 11 and stylus holder 12. The sound box 10 may be connected to the tone-arm 13 in any suitable manner for the construction of the tone-arm forms no part of the present invention. This sound box is constructed preferably of wood and consists of a base suitable materialis placed between the fixed edge portion of the disk and the opposing edge of the annular flange to maintain the disk in spaced relation therewith. A metallic strip 19 may be placed over the edge portion ofthe disk which is to be secured to the sound box in order t0.'16lIlfOICB this edge. A strip 20 similar to the strip 18 should preferably be placed between the metallic strip'19 and the disk to prevent metallic contact with the disk. The forward edge portion 21 of the disk 11 is free to vibrate and the stylus holder 22 is secured to this edge.

The Vibratory disk 11 is preferably made of varying thickness, the-portion 21 adjacent to the stylus connection and'the fixed edge being thicker than the portion 23 in order to provide the desired firmness and to secure the most perfect tone. 7

The stylus holder consists of an up er member 24 which is secured to the underface of the disk 11 by the fastener 25, and a lower member 26 which grips the stylus in the usual manner. The members 24 and 26 are connected by a flat spring 27 which has its opposite ends firmly secured in these members. This spring permits the lower member 26 -of the stylus holder to swing sound box is dependent upon the relative extent of the free and fixed edge portions of the disk. Where a strong tone is required, the fixed edge portion of the disk should be comparatively short to permit the maximum freedom of vibration of the disk. The vibrations are preferably transmitted by thener. described, the. sound stylus holder to the free edge of the disk. The disk may be round, square, or. of any other suitable shape.

By making the disk of wood in the manproduced has the mellowness of a violin as distinguished from the more metallic tone of a banjo.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the stylus holder 28 is supported by oppositely disposed lugs 29 on the periphery of the sound box instead of bein' directly connected to the vibratory disk. 11 arm 30 has its lower extremity secured to the stylus holder and its upper extremity is connected to the free edge portion of the vibratory disk 31. The arm 30 is pivotally mounted in the lugs 29 at 32.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 of the drawing, a metal protecting casing 33 fits' about the periphery of the sound box to form a protection therefor and the upper edge 34 of this casing is crimped inwardly over the face of the vibratory disk 35 but should be suificiently spaced from the upper face thereof to permit freedom of action of the disk.

When such a protecting casing is used, the vibratory disk 35 may be made of slightly less diameter than the sound box in order that the disk may not contact with themetal casing. The stylus holder 36 projects While I have found that better tone is pr0- duced by the useof a wooden sound box and vibratory disk,' either or both of these parts may be made of any other suitable material and the. advanta eous features of my invention are applica le thereto. I am likewise aware that other changes in the form and arrangement ofiparts maybe made without departing from the spirit of my invention,

and I reserve the right to make all suchas fairly-fall within the scope of the following claims. 4

I claim:

1. A sound box provided with a diaphragm secured along a portion of its edge to said sound box with the remaining portion of its edge free to vibrate relative to said sound box.

, 2. A sound box provided with a vibratory plate secured along'a ortion of its edge to said sound box with t e remaining portion of its ed e spaced from said sound box and free to vlbrate relative thereto.

3. A sound box provided with a vibratory disk'secured alongflja portion of its edge to said sound box with the remaining portion of its edge spaced from said sound box and free to'vibrate relative thereto, and a stylus golger connected to the free edge of said 4. A sound box comprising a casing having a base provided with an annular flange thereon, and a diaphragm having a portion relatively thic of'its edge secured to said flange and the remaining portion of its edge free to vibrate relative to said casing.

5. A sound box comprising a caslng having a base provided with an annular flange,

portion of its edge and leaving the remainder of said edge free to vibrate, and diaphragm fastening means passing through said strip and said diaphragm. to secure said diaphragm to said casing. I

7. A sound box comprising a casing provided. with an open face, a diaphragm forming a closure for said face, a spacing strip interposed between said diaphragm and said casing along a portion of the edge of said diaphragm, and fasteners passing through said diaphragm and said strip to secure said diaphragm to said casing.

8. A sound box comprising a casing provided with an open face. a diaphragm forming a closure for said face, a binding strip on the face of said diaphragm, asegmental spacing strip interposed between said diahragm and said casing, and fasteners pass- 111g through said binding strip, said diaphragm and said spacing strip and engaging said casing to secure said diaphragm to said casing. a

9. A sound box comprising a-casing provided with an open face, a diaphragm forming a closure'for said face, a metallic binding strip on the face of said diaphragm, an insulating strip between said binding strip and said diaphragm, a spacing strip interosed between said diaphragm and said casmg, and fasteners passing through said binding strip, said insulating strip, said diaphragm and said spacing strip andengaging said casing to secure said diaphragm to said casing.

10. A sound box comprising a casing, a diaphragmsupported by said casing and having a relativel thin central portion and a rim portion, and a stylus holder connected to the .rim of said diaphragm.

11. A sound box comprising a casing provided with an open face, a diaphragmforming a closure for said face, a segmental spacing strip interposed between said diaphragm and said casing, and means for securing said diaphragm upon said casing.

JOHN W. HONKA. 

